Last-making machine.



E. E. FOSTER.

LAST MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men NOV. 4, 1915.

Patented June 11, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHE'ET I- M72 w W2 m E. E. FOSTER.

LAST MAKIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-4.1915.

Patented June 11, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. E. FOSTER.

LAST MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4. 1915.

Patented June 11, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ma ma E. E. FOSTER.

LAST MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOM- 4. I915.

1 @69 %?3 Patented June 1L, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

TYNEFEE STATES PATENT @FFIWE.

EDWARD E. FOSTER, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To C. C. BLAKE, INCOR- PORATED, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LAST-MAKING MAGHIN E.

. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June jllfli, 191%.,

Application filed November 4, 1915. Serial No. 59,645.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Last-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification. i

The present invention relates to wood cutting machines and more particularly to a machine for use in the manufacture of lasts. The last used in the manufacture of Blake welt shoes is provided with a bottom which is separated from the upper-shaping surface of the last by a vertical shoulder.

The object of the present invention is to produce a machineforshouldering a last for use in the manufacture of Blake welt shoes.

To the accomplishment of this object, and such others as may hereinafter appear, the features of the invention relate to certain devices, combinations and arrangements of parts, hereinafter described, and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims.

The various features of the present invention will be best understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the last making machine;

F ig. 2 is a detail in plan of the devices for supporting, guiding and feeding the leader;

Fig. 3 is a detail in plan of the mechanism beneath the platen;

Fig. 4; is a detail in sectional elevation looking toward the right, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan illustrating the relation between the edge of the last bottom and the guiding flange on the leader;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the last;

Fig. 7' is a detail showing the cam surface on the leader at the toe thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of at the side thereof;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan showing the relation of the last and cutter during the bottom-forming operation Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation;

the leader Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the fin ished last; and

Fig. 12 is a detail in elevation of the rotary cutter and its presser foot.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 the last foruse in the manufacture of Blake welt shoes is provided with an upper-shaping surface 1 and a bottom :2 which is separated from the surface 1 by a vertical shoulder 3. This construction raises the bottom of the last above the body portion thereof thus sharply defining the edge 1 of the last bottom. Described in general terms, the machine of the drawing is provided with a to tary cutter of less axial dimension than the lastto form the shoulder 3 and the point of operation of this cutter is transferred along the last by automatic mechanism operating to move the support upon which the last is mounted over a horizontal table. During the transfer of the point of operation of the cutter along the last the relative position of the last and the cutter is corrected to maintain a uniform relationship between the last and the cutter notwithstanding the various slopes and lateral curves on the last bottom and thus locate the shoulder at the juncture between the'bottom of the last and the upper-shaping surface thereof.

' In the illustrated embodiment the last upon which the shoulder 3 is to be formed is jacked upon a work support 6 which is provided with runners 7 (Fig. 1) arranged to slide over a platen 8 secured to a bracket 9 mounted on a column 10. The work support 6 is secured to a leader 11 (Fig. 2) provided with a guiding flange 12 (Fig. 8) hereinafter referred to as a contour of the last. As shown in Fig. 5 the projections of the edge of the finished bottom of the last at the sides thereof upon the plane of the leader coincide with the inside face of the guiding flange. At the toe the projections of the edge of the last bottom upon the plane of the leader fall within the guiding flange. This variation at the toe of the leader is for the accommodation of the toeboX which in a future shoe bottoming operation will be applied to the toe end of the insole which at that time will be flush with upper having the toe-box within it is lasted to the edge of the insole in accordance with the method of lasting practised in the Blake process the projections of the free edge of the upper upon the plane of the leader will coincide with the inside face of the guiding flange throughout its length. Stated in another way, the projections upon the plane of the leader of the outside edge of the toe box secured in position on the toe of the insole positioned on the last will coincide with the guiding flange at the toe of the leader.

The leader is actuated to transfer the point of operation of the tool around the last by a gear 13 (Figs. 1 and 2) which engages rack teeth 14. formed on the exterior face of the guiding flange 12. The gear 13 is secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 15 (Fig. 1) whichis drivenfrom a horizontal shaft 16 througha worm 17 on the shaft 16 which meshes with a worm wheel 18 on the shaft 15. The shaft 16 loosely carries a pulley 19 which is driven from a motor 20 mounted on the base of the column 10, through a belt 21. The pulley 19 is provided with a clutch member which is arrangedto be engagedby a complemental clutch member 22 splined on the shaft 16. In order to shift the clutch member 22 on the shaft 16 and thus clutch the: pulley 19 to the shaft the clutch member 22 is provided with a pa ri Jheralgroove 23 which is engaged by a p ir of blocks 24: carried by the vertical arm of a bell crank lever 25 pivoted on the columnlO. The horizontal arm of the bell crank lever 25 is pivoted to the upper end of a rod 26 which is connected at its lower end to a treadle 27. VVith this construction pressure on the treadle slides the clutch member 22 on the shaft 16 into engagement with the pulley 19 and thus clutches the shaft 16 to the source of power. The clutch member 22 is normally held away from the pulley 19 by a spring 28 one end of which is operatively connected to the vertical arm of the bell crank lever 25 and the other end of which is connected to the column 10.

In order to swing the jack laterally as the point of operation of the tool is transferred around the last to maintain the edge of the last in proximity to the tool. in the line of feed the guiding flange 12 on the leader is engaged by a. pin 29 (Fig. 2) arranged to engage inside the flange and by guide rolls 30 and 31 arranged to engage outside the flange. The "guide pin 29 is formed upon theupper end of a vertical rod 32 (Fig. 1) which is loosely mounted in a bearing formed in the bracket 9. The rod 32 carries a plane surfaced block 33which is provided with a roll 345 (Fig. 41:) embraced by a cam slot 35 formed in a vertical flange 36 of a horizontal slide 37 slidably mounted in the bracket 9. The slide 37 is connected to an arm 38 projecting from a rock shaft 39 )in 29 below the 'uidin flan e 12 and also below the surface of the platen 8. The guide pin 29 is eccentrically mounted on the rod 32 to permit it to traverse the short curve at the toe of the leader. The guide pin is made semi-circular in the manner "illustrated in Fig. 41 to avoid all danger of interference with the devices for securing the work support to the leader.

' In order to hold the leader down upon the platen the exterior face of the flange at the upper end thereof is beveled as shown at 42 (F 4. and 8). This beveled surface isenga ged by the frusto-conical guide'rolls 30 and 31. With this construction the guides 29,30 and 31 have a three-point contact with the guiding flange and thus act to swing the work laterally during. its feed. The axis about which the work swings passes substantially through the point of operation of the tool. At least, the axis about which the leader swings passes through the point of operation of the tool during the traverse of the tool along the sides of the last. In order to enable the rolls 30 and 31 to engage the flange at all times without binding as they traverse the re verse curves of the flangeat the shank and around the toe the guide rolls 30 and 31 are journaled in a slide 43 (Fig. 4;) mounted to slide in a guide-way 451' formed in the bracket 9. The rolls 30 and 31 are actuated in a direction to press them against the flange 12 by means of aspring4c5 (Figs. 2 and It has been proposed heretofore to connect the springl5 directly to the slide 413. With this construction it was found that the pressure is decreased during the traverse of the rolls along a convex surface such as at the toe of the leader and that the pressure is increased during the traverse of the rolls along a concave surface such as at the shank of the leader. Owing to the great arc through which it is necessary to swing the heavy leader and jack sup ported thereby during the traverse of the rolls around the toe it is found that with the construction referred to. great pressure is brought to bear upon the rolls during their traverse of the toe. As the spring is pressing the rolls against the leader during their traverse of the toe with its minimum pressure there is a tendency for the leader tdmove away from one of the rolls and thus interrupt the desirable three-point contactof the guides with the flange. In order to maintain the three-point contact of the guides throughout their engagement with the flange the spring 15, instead of being directly connected to the slide 13, is connected to the slide through a lever 4C6 (Figs. 2 and 3). This lever is arranged to "vary its leverage inversely to variations in the tension on the spring. That is, the pressure on the rolls 30 and 31 is increased during their traverse of thetoe of the leader and is. decreased during their traverse alongthe shank of the leader. By increasing the pres sure on the rolls during their traverse of the toe the leader is prevented from moving away from one of the rolls thus insuring the constant three-point contact of the guide rolls with the guiding flange. As the leverage of the swinging work is neutralized during the traverse of the rolls alongthe shank of the leader the pressure on the rolls may be safely decreased during their traverse of the shank in order to reduce their friction to a minimum. 'The lever 46 is pivoted at one end to the bracket 9. At its other end the lever is pivoted to ablock 17 (Figs. 2 and 3) which loosely receives a rod 48 pivoted to an extension of the bracket. The spring 15 is coiled around the rod 48 and is interposed between the block 17 and a shoulder 49 on the rod. The lever 46 is pivoted intermediate its end by a short link 50 to the slide 43.

From an inspection of Figs. 3 and& it will be readily seen that the link 50is con nected to a rigid arm, that is, an arm not compressible longitudinally, of a toggle the other arm of which is yielding. With this construction the pressure of the rolls on the leader is at its minimum when the toggle approaches its made position and is at its maximum when the toggle approaches its broken position. As the slide is positioned farther to the right during the traverse of the rolls around the toe of the leader than during the traverse of the rolls along the shank of the leader it will be obvious that with the improved construction referred to the pressure of the rolls is increased during their traverse of the toe of the leader and is decreased during their traverse along the shank of the leader. The improved construction consequently insures theengagement of the three guides 29, 30 and 31 with the guiding flange at all times during their traverse thereof. While the rigid arm of the toggle as shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is a lever ofthe second order it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that levers of other orders may comprise the rigid arm of the toggle.

To withdraw the guide rolls 30 and .31

from the guiding flange 12 at the same time that the guiding pin 29 is withdrawn therefrom the slide 37 is provided with a cam slot 51 (Figs. 2 and 3) which embraces a roll 52 carried by the slide 43. With this construction a downward movement ofthe rod 53 (Figs) which passes loosely through a lug 54-. on the column 10. Interposed between thelug 54 and a shoulder 55 on the rod is a spring 56 which is coiled around the rod. The movement of the slide 37 is limited in both directions by a pair of pins 57and 58 (Fig. 3) arrangedto alternately engage the opposite sides of thebraeketi). The tool forforming the shoulder 3 con sists of a rotary cutter 59 (Figs. 1 and 12) of lessaxial diameter than the last, that is,

the vertical height of the cutteris less than the vertical height of the last. The cutter comprises a conical cutting face 60 which forms the shoulder 3 and a concaved cutting face 61 which shapes the upper-shaping surface of the last adjacent the base of the shoulder 3. The cutter is mounted in operative position relative to the last so that anelement of the conical face '60, hereinafter called the cutting element, is in a vertical plane intersecting the axis about which the last support is swung to maintain the curved edge on the last bottom in the line of feed. The two faces 60 and 61 arejoined bya circular edge 62. The circular edge 62 rotates in an inclined plane so that the pro jections thereof on-vertical and horizontal planes generate ovals having their major axes horizontal. The dotted line representations of the cutter in Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the shape of the circular edge 62 when generated upon horizontal and vertical planes respectively. The size and inclination of the circular edge 62 determine the size and position of a rotary cutter which will out into the Wood of the last to the same depth and at the same angle notwithstanding the various longitudinal and lateral curves on the last bottom. To this end the largest curve which would engage the last on a rise 01' drop without penetration below the line of the contemplated cut was first determined. Then the largest curve was determined which would fit into the reverse curves along the edge of the last bottom Without extension within the edge of the last bottom. These two curves were found to be elliptical in form and after forming theellipses in vertical and horizontal. planes, respectively, a circle was determined which, when located in an incline plane, would project the ellipses in the horizontal and vertical planes referred to. The determination of this circle fixed the size and location of the cutter. With this construction and arrangement the uniform ei igagement oi the cutter with the horizontal and lateral curves oi the work is insured. gThat. is notwitlv standing the. various slopes and .reverse curves on the last the cutter 59 .willengage all points around the last in the same nanner.

The cutter 59 is secured atthe endoi' an inclined shaft 63 (Fig. 1) which is journaled in a cutter head 64- formed on acounterbalance slide 65. The. slide 'fio is mounted to slidevertically in ways formed .ona sec .ond slide 66 mounted to slide horizontally in ways formed on the column 10. The shaft 63 is rotated by a belt 67 which passes over a pulley (38 on the shaft 63, an idler pulley 69 on the cutter head, and a pulley 7 0 on ashaft 71 which driven by motor 72 on the cutter head 63.

During thetransfer of the point oi operation of the cutter59v around the last the cutter head 6 risesand falls in accordance With the various slopes on the .lastbottom.

To this end thehead 6 i carries a frustoconicalroll 73 which is arranged with. its broader base. directed toward the cutter, .59 and is mounted to travel over an endsuriace of the last within the line of cut. The roll 73 is journaled inan arm 74: which is pivoted at '75 on the cutter 'head 64;. In order to permit the continued rotation of the cutter 59 and at the same tin'ie prevent its'operation on the last the armfi maybe turned about the'pivot 75to bring the roll 73 beneath thecutter or betweenthe cutter and the last. To thisend the cutter, .head 6% carries a horizontal shaft 76;(Fig..1)

providedwith an eccentric 77 which works in an elongated opening 78 formed in the arm'7t. The shaft 76, outside the arm 74, isalso provided with a double-face collar or. disk 79 (Fig. 12) which carries a ,rod

During its operation upon the sides of the last the cutter forms a shoulder the pro jections of which upon. the plane of. the leader coincide with the guiding face 12. In order to. accommodate for the toe-box variation hereinbefore, referred to, the slide .66 is providedwith afeeler, or cam follower sideilace of the guiding flange 12.

83(l1ligs. 1 and 2) interposed between the rolls 30 and 3], which engages the bevel 42 oirthe outside iaco oi the guiding flange.

the slide 66 and theeother" end of which is connected tothe bracket 9.. Thebevel l2 is formed at the sides of the leader to maintain the cutter in such position that the projections of the edge of the last bottom formed thereby will coincidewith the in At a point corresponding to the position of the end of the toe-box in a lasted shoe the bevel -12 comu'iences to change to a cam face 86 (Fig. 7) having more taper. lVith this construction thecutter 59 is shifted transversely of the feed during its traverse or the toe of the last toform an edge the pro- I jectionsof which upon the plane of the leader fall within the guiding flange.

It will be clear to those skilled in this class-of machines and with the general objects of the present invention in view that changes maybe made in the details of structure, the described and illustrated em bodiment thereof being intended as an exploitation of its underlying essentials the i'eatur es whereof are definitely stated in their true scope in the claims hereto appended. I

lVhatis claimedas new, is 1 A; last making machine, having, in combination, a support-for alast inprocess, a rotary cutter of less axial dimension than the last to form ashoulder thereon, means for. relatively moving the support and the cutterto transfer the point of operation of the cutter along the last, andmeans engaging an end surface of the last and controlling the relative vertical position of the cutter and the last by variations of said end surface from a plane to maintain a uniform relation between the cutter and the bottom of the last and thus locate the shoulder at the juncture of the bottom of the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof.

2. A lastmakingmachine, having, in combination, asupport for. a last in process, a

rotary cutter of; less axial dimension. than the last to form. a. shoulder thereon, means for relatively moving the support and the cutter to transfer the point of operation of the cutter along. the last, and means engaging a contourof thelast and controlling the relative horizontal position of the cutter and the last by variations of said contour from the point ofoperation of the cutter to maintain a uniform relation between the cutter and the bottom-of the last and thus locate the shoulderat the edgeofthe bottom.

. 3. Alast making machine, having, in combination, a support. for a last in process, a rotary cutter of less axial dimension than the to transfer the point of. operation of thecutter along the last, and mechanism to maintain a uniform relation between the cut ter and the bottom of the last andthus locate the shoulder at the uncture of the bottomof the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof, comprising means engaging an end surface of the last controlling the relative vertical position of the cutter and the last by variations of said end surface from a plane, and means engaging a contour of the last controlling the relative horizontal position of the cutter and the last by variations of said contour from the point of operation of the cutter.

4:. A last making machine, having, in combination, a support for a last in process, a rotary cutter having a conical cuttin face, means for feeding the support longitu inally past the cutter, and means for swinging the support laterally during its feed longitudinally to maintain the reverse curves on the bottom of the last in the line of feed, said swinging movement taking place about an axis coinciding with the cutting element of the cutter.

5. A last making machine, having, in combination, a support for supporting a last, and a conical cutter of less axial dimension than the last and arranged with its cutting element in a vertical plane, to form a vertical shoulder at the juncture of the bottom of the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof.

6. A last making machine, having, in combination, a support for sup-porting a last, and a conical cutter, of less axial dimension than the last and arranged with its cutting element in a vertical plane, to form a vertical shoulder at the juncture of the bottom of the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof, said cutter having a concaved cutting face to shape the upper-shaping surface of the last adjacent the base of the shoulder.

7. A last making machine, having, in combination, a support for a last in process, a conical cutter of less axial dimension than the last and arranged with its cutting element in a vertical plane, to form a vertical shoulder at the juncture of the bottom of the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof, said cutter having a concaved cutting face to shape the upper-shaping surface of the last adjacent the base of the shoulder, means for moving the support to transfer the point of operation of the cutter along the last, and means for correcting the relative position of the support and cutter during the transfer of the point of operation of the cutter along the last to maintain a uniform relationship between the cutter and the last notwithstanding variations in the slope and edge curvature on the last bottom and; thus locate the shoulder at the juncture ofthe bottom of the last with the uppershapi ng surface thereof.

8. A last making machine, having, in com bination, a-support for ailast in process, a cutter to form ashoulderonthc last, means for feeding the support longitudinally and swinging it laterallyto transfer the point of operation of the cutter along the last, and

'means for correcting the-relative position of the support and cutter during its transfer along the last to n'iaintain a uniform relationship between the support and cutter not withstanding variations in the slope and edge curvature of the last bottom and thus locate the shoulder at the juncture of the bottom of the last with the upper-shaping surface thereof.

9. A last making machine, having, in combination, a support for a last in process, a plural cutting means to form a vertical cut in the last bottom and a second lateral cut in the upper-shaping surface of the last joining the vertical cut at the base thereof, means for relatively moving said means and the support to transfer the point of operation of said means along the last, and means engaging an end surface of the last and a contour of the last, respectively, for correcting the relative position of the cutting means and the support notwithstanding variations in the slope and edge curvature of the last bottom.

10. A last machine, having, in combination, a support for a last in process; a leader carried by the support and having a guiding flange; a rotary cutter operating to form a shoulder at the sides of the last bottom, the projections of which upon the plane of the leader coincide with the guiding flange; means for relatively actuating the support and cutter to transfer the point of operation of the cutter around the last; and means for relatively shifting the support and cutter during the transfer of the point of operation of the cutter around the toe of the last to form a shoulder the projections of which upon the plane of the leader fall within the guiding flange, substantially as described.

11. A last machine, having, in combina tion, a support for a last in process; a leader carried by the support and having a guiding flange; a rotary cutter operating to form a shoulder at the sides of the last bottom, the projections of which upon the plane of the leader coincide with the guiding flange; means for actuating the leader to transfer the point of operation of the cutter around the last; and means for relatively shifting the support and cutter during the transfer of the point of operation. of the cutter around the toe of the last to form a shoulder the projections of which upon the plane of the leader fall within the guiding flange, substantially as described,

12.- A last machine, having, in coinbinathe point of operation of the cutter around tion, a support for alast in processga leader the last; and: means for shifting the cutter carried by the support and having a guiding duringthe transfer of the point of operation flange; a rotary cutter operating to forrn a of the cutter around the toe of the last to 5 shoulder at the sides of the last bottom, the form a shoulder, the projections of which projections of which upon theplane of the upon theplane of the leader fall Within the leader coincide with the guiding flange; guidingflange, substantially as described. means for actuating the leader to transfer EDWARD EQFOSTER.

Copies of this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

